Before Dana Tyrell's goal with 1:11 left in the third period ended Matt Murray's shutout streak, Murray had successfully shut out Springfield all season long - a perfect 3-0 with 3 shutouts against the Falcons this season. Overall, Murray entered the game just 22:56 of shutout hockey away from the American Hockey League's all-time shutout streak record. He did more than break the record, nearly earning his 6th straight shutout in the Penguins 4-1 win this afternoon and setting the new record at 304 minutes and 11 seconds.

Murray made AHL history in the second period, breaking Barry Brust's record of 268:17 of consecutive shutout hockey 2:56 into the middle frame. He earned it, having to stop a breakaway on the opening shift of the 2nd and a half dozen shots in the first three minutes to seal the deal on the record, which he increased to 304:11 before allowing a goal with 1:11 left in the 3rd period to Dana Tyrell.

After some early pressure by the Falcons, the Penguins got to their game and started to create offense of their own. After a cross-checking minor on Frederic St. Denis, the Pens took a 1-0 lead on the power play on a controversial goal.

The trio of Conor Sheary, Andrew Ebbett and Kostopoulos connected on a tic-tac-toe passing display halfway through the man advantage with the puck coming to the Penguins' captain and bouncing in past Oscar Dansk off Kostopoulos' skate. The goal was reviewed but stood as called.

From there, the Falcons played with purpose and momentum on their side - obviously miffed about the call on Kostopoulos' goal. They drew a roughing penalty on Taylor Chorney and were buzzing on the late first period power play, but Murray was up to the task like he's been since basically December 28th - robbing ex-WBS captain Ryan Craig in the waning seconds of the power play and first period.

Murray made AHL history in the second period. The Pens got into some penalty trouble in the middle frame and Murray and the penalty killers held their own, but not before Adam Payerl extended the Pens' lead to 2-0.

Oscar Dansk made a terrific save on Scott Wilson, but credit Payerl for going to the net and making a great hand-eye play, batting the puck out of mid-air to be Dansk on the rebound for Payerl's 2nd goal of the season. Jayson Megna also added an assist on the play.

Amidst more brilliant stops by Murray was a great individual effort by Ebbett to push the Pens to a three-goal lead with 3:23 before the second intermission - knocking a backhander past Dansk as he was on one knee and falling to the ice. Sheary and Kostopoulos added assists on Ebbett's 15th of the season.

The Penguins made it 4-0 late in the third on Pierre-Luc Leblond's 2nd of the season before Tyrell capped the game's scoring with 1:11 left to complete the 4-1 final score.

ROSTER NOTES

Matt Murray (32 saves - 33 shots) got the start in net, entering today's contest with four straight shutouts in his last four appearances and with 245:22 of consecutive shutout hockey, only 22:56 away from breaking the AHL's all-time shutout streak set by Barry Brust (268:17).

No lineup changes today for the Penguins from Saturday's 3-0 shutout of Manchester yesterday.

Reid McNeill missed his second straight game with an upper body injury sustained Friday night in Manchester. There were reports from some of the WBS Penguins booster club members who made the road trip that McNeill was seen with something on his left hand/wrist after Friday night's game. The official injury update is that McNeill is week-to-week, which indicates it is more serious than the usual day-to-day timetable that head coach John Hynes uses to describe his players' injuries.